LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball have clearly come a long way since their first Lithuanian (LKL) League game against Lietkabelis, with plenty more room for improvement remaining. LaVar Ball’s boys looked more competent offensively for Prienu Vytautas on Sunday, but struggled along with their teammates to stop Pieno Zvaigzdes in a 116-93 loss at Prienai Arena.

After combining to go scoreless on the road (0-of-7 from the field) in fewer than 15 totals minutes last weekend, Gelo and Melo combined for 33 points on their home floor, albeit against a fringe playoff team. LiAngelo accounted for 20 of those points—a game high—on 7-of-16 shooting. The 19-year-old once again flashed a smooth outside shot (3-of-7 from three-point range), some clever low-post skills and an ability to finish through contact.

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Gelo also chipped in three rebounds, an assist and a steal, and accounted for one turnover in just over 25 minutes. All told, though, he logged a game-worst plus-minus of minus-23.

LaMelo, on the other hand, was a minus-10 on account of his 13 points, two assists, two steals, one rebound and one turnover in 18:28. The 16-year-old couldn’t find the range from beyond the arc (0-of-4 from three)—due in part to poor shot selection—but helped to spark a brief comeback attempt by Vytautas early in the third quarter.

Both Big Baller Brand ambassadors got burned time and again defensively. According to Lithuanian basketball journalist Donatas Urbonas, Vytautas was an unsightly minus-27 when Lonzo Ball’s younger brothers shared the floor.

Ball brothers played 14:29 together on the floor and went from 0 to 13 (LaMelo) and 20 (LiAngelo) pts comparing to their first LKL game. Prienai allowed league season high 116 pt (93:116). They were -27 with both Melo and Gelo on the floor.

Melo, in particular, couldn’t stay in front of Pieno’s quicker, stronger guards, which included former Wisconsin Badger Trevon Hughes (16 points, six assists, three steals).

Neither could quite keep Vytautas from picking up its seventh straight league loss and sinking deeper into last place among the LKL’s 10 teams. But both showed signs of progress, at least on one end of the floor, in the lopsided defeat.

Their next opportunity to test themselves in Lithuania’s top competition will have to wait until next Saturday’s home game against Juventus. Before then, they will take the floor in Prienai opposite Alytaus Dzūkija in the Big Baller Brand Challenge Games on Jan. 23.

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